Form assembly for erecting concrete spans



Sept. 1968 J. H. NICHOLS 3,401,912

FORM ASSEMBLY FOR ERECTING CONCRETE SPANS Filed March 51, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.2

INVENTOR 20 Q. 5 JOHN H. NICHOLS ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1968 J. H. NICHOLS 3,401,912

FORM ASSEMBLY FOR ERECTING CONCRETE SPANS Filed March 31, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.9

INVENTOR JOHN H. NICHOLS aiu k.

ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1968 J. H. NICHOLS FORM ASSEMBLY FOR ERECTING CONCRETE SPANS Filed March 31. 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 JOHN H. NICHOLS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,401,912 FORM ASSEMBLY FOR ERECTING CONCRETE SPANS John H. Nichols, 2472 Arnold Tenbrook Road, Arnold, Mo. 63010 Filed Mar. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 541,466 13 Claims. (Cl. 249-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure relates to a self-supporting form assembly of adjustable length and variable width for use between spaced pylons, and parallel support beams in the erection of large concrete structures. The assembly utilizes component parts which make it capable of being readily disassembled and afford it a high degree of portability from job to job.

This invention relates to concrete forming equipment and techniques.

It is the object of this invention to provide a means for pouring a concrete span between spaced pylons using a minimum of scaifolding.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a means of the type described which is self-supporting and adjustable.

With the above and other objects in view, which will become immediately apparent upon reading the specification, this invention resides in the unique and novel form, arrangement, construction and combination of parts described in the specification and claimed in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a span asserrrbly in use;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of one of the slidable forms used in the assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of one of the stationary forms used in the assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of one of the end caps used in the assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of one end of the assembly with the end caps removed;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a bottom View thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 1010 of FIGURE 6 and being limited to one area where adjacent slidable forms overlap;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIGURE 6 and being limited to an area where adjacent stationary forms overlap;

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along a line similar to lines 1010 of FIGURE 6 and being limited to showing the details of overlapping stationary and slidable forms in a single column.

Referring now in more detail and by reference character to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates a modular span assembly supported above the ground G by two elongated planks 12, 14, each respectively supported by scaffolds 16, 18, respectively, and spanning a gap between two secured pylons 20, 22.

The modular span assembly A includes stationary forms 30, slidable forms 32, end caps 34, lower support bars 36, upper support bars 38, tie rods 40, pins 42, and wedges 44.

The stationary forms 30 include an elongated shell 50, shaped like a segment of a cylinder and provided on its opposing lateral margins with a pair of co-planar flanges 52, 54, each respectively provided with a plurality of regularly spaced bores 56, 58.

The adjustable forms 32 are shaped identically with the forms 30 and include an elongated shell 60 provided with a pair of co-planar lateral flanges 62, 64, each of which is respectively provided with a plurality of regularly spaced slots 66.

It should be here noted that the spacing between centers of adjacent bores 56, between centers of adjacent bores 58, between centers of adjacent slots 66, and between centers of adjacent slots 68, all are equal, one to the other, for purposes presently more fully to appear.

The end caps 34 include a shell 70 similar in shape to the shells 50 and 60 but being of substantially shorter length. The shell 70 is provided on opposing sides with flanges 72, 74, each respectively provided with regularly spaced bores 76, 78, which are spaced substantially closer together than the spacing between the bores 56, 58. A plate closes one end of the end cap 34 for purposes presently more fully to appear.

The lower support bars 36 include an elongated member provided on each of its lateral margins with upwardly and outwardly projecting elements 92, 94, respectively. Located on the member 90 is a plurailty of regularly spaced bores 96 which are located in alignment with the bores 56, 58, on the flanges 52, 54. It should be here noted that the bars 36 are sized in length for spanning the distance between the pylons 20, 22.

The upper support bars 38 include an elongated member 100 sized equally in length with the support bar 36 and also being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced bores 106, each spaced from the adjacent bores 106 by the same distance as exists between adjacent bores 96. The tie rods 40 are conventional and include an elongated shank section 110 which connects a pair of closed eyelets 112, 114. The shank section 110 is sized lengthwise to permit the centers of the eyelets 112 and 114 to come into alignment with the centers of the complementary bores 56 and 58, while the rod 40 is disposed beneath the shell 50.

Similarly, the pins 42 are also conventional and include a head 116 and a cylindrical shank 118, the shank 118 being provided with a diametrally extending slot 120.

The wedge 44 is also conventional including a tapered sheet 122 having a small end 124 and a large end 126 and sized in width for snug fitting engagement in the slot of the pin 42.

To form the complete assembly A, a plurality of support bars 36 are extended from the plank 12 on the scaffold 16 to the plank 14 on the scaffold 18 in laterally spaced separation, each with the elements 92, 94, projecting upwardly. The forms 30 are then placed on the bars 36 with the flanges 52, 54, being disposed on the bars 36 between the elements 92, 94. Centrally of the lateral margins 130, 132, of the assembly A, one flange 52 of each form 30 will overlap one flange 54 of the next adjacent form 30. The forms 30 are secured in position by placing the upper support bar 38 over the overlapped flanges 52, 54, of the adjacent forms 30; aligning the bores 106, 56, 58 and 96; inserting a pin 42 through the aforementioned aligned bores; and thereafter driving a wedge 44 through the slot 120 in the pin 44. Either two or three pins 42 may be used to secure each pair of overlapping forms together during assembly; however, when assembly is complete, all bores must be secured by pins to obtain maximum structural integrity.

The forms 30 are assembled preferably, though not necessarily, in columns extending from plank 12 to plank each form 30 should also overlap each endwise adjacentform 30, making continually certain that the overlapping of the flanges 52, 54, is always confined to the space between the upper support bar 38 and the lower support bar 36.

The last large form used in each column C is a slidable form 32. The forms 32 are disposed in the assembly A in the same manner as the forms 30, the slots 66 and 68 being used to provide length adjustments in fractions of an inch, as will hereinafter be more clearly explained.

The end caps 34 are located at the end of each column C and are placed on the end of each column C with the plates 89 presented outwardly. The close spacing between the adjacent bores 76 and the adjacent bores 78 enables the end caps 34 to be mounted at the opposing ends of the column C in such manner that a simple sliding adjustment of the slidable form 32 will permit each column C to span the distance between the pylons 20, 22, with the plates 80 of the opposing end caps 34 lying flush against the pylons 20, 22.

It should be apparent that the assembly A when completed is a row of columns C secured side by side and held rigidly in position between the lower support bars 36 and the upper support bars 38. When the pins 42 are driven through the aligned bores and slots, and the tie rods 40 are disposed about the bases of the pins 42 in continuous lines parallel to the planks 12 and 14, the entire assembly A may be completed by driving the wedges 44 through the slots 120 in the pins 42.

It has been found that the completed assembly A is completely self-supporting between the planks 12 and 14 and the vertical deflection obtained when concrete is poured on the assembly A is negligible.

It has also been found that best results in pouring are obtained (and also form removal) when the scaffolds 16 and 18 and the planks 12 and 14 are sized in height to a distance where the lower margins of the end caps 34 are between /2 inch and 1 inch below the upper margins of the plyons 20, 22.

Surrounding concrete retaining panels D (only one shown) are then attached to the pylons 20, 22, in the conventional manner, and concrete is then poured onto the assembly A and the pylons 20, 22.

After the concrete has set, the scaffolded structures 16 and 18 are removed in the conventional manner, the planks 12, 14, are also removed, and the assembly A is disassembled by first removing all wedges 44, then by removing the tie rods 40, thereafter removing the lower support bars 36. Next the forms 30 and 32 may be removed readily from the set concrete by slight manual tapping with a hammer. All parts removed are reusable.

It should be understood that changes and alterations in the form, arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts and steps of my invention may be made and substituted for those shown herein without departing from the nature and principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is shown in the above specification and recited in the following claims:

1. A concrete form assembly for use between two horizontal beams supported in spaced separation from each other, said assembly comprising a pair of lower support bars each extending from one beam to the other in spaced parallel relation, a stationary form disposed on each of the lower support bars and extending therebetween, adjustable form also disposed on each of the lower support bars and being in adjustable overlapping engagement with the stationary form, said stationary form and adjustable form each being similarly shaped and each including a pair of complementary co-planar flanges on opposing lateral margins thereof, said overlapping flanges defining a continuous flange span between the beams, each flange span being disposed flush over one of the lower support bars, a pair of upper support bars disposed over each of the lower support bars, and the flange span, and means for securing the support bars and the forms to each other.

2. A concrete form assembly for use between two horizontal beams supported in spaced separation from each other, said assembly comprising a pair of lower support bars each extending from one beam to the other in spaced parallel relation, a stationary form disposed on each of the lower support bars and extending therebetween, an adjustable form also disposed on each of the lower support bars and being in adjustable overlapping engagement with the stationary form, a pair of upper support bars disposed over each of the lower support bars and the form, and means for securing the support bars and the forms to each other, said stationary form and adjustable forms each comprising an elongated arcuate shell which is provided on its opposing margins with a pair of coplanar complementary flanges, each of which flanges are sized and located for parallel overlapping abutment with one of the support bars, and the adjustable form is provided with means for adjustable overlapping attachment to the stationary form between the upper and lower support bars.

3. A concrete form assembly for use between two horizontal beams supported in spaced relation from each other and each being immediately adjacent an elongated pylon, across which pylons a concrete deck is to be poured said assembly comprising first, second and third elongated lower support bars each extending horizontally between the two beams, first and second stationary forms each including an elongated arcuate shell and first and second lateral flanges on opposing sides of each shell, first and second adjustable forms, each including an elongated arcuate shell and first and second lateral flanges on opposing sides of each shell, the first flange of the first stationary form being in parallel overlapping engagement with the first lower support bar, the second flange of the first stationary form overlapping in parallel relation, the first flange of the second stationary form and the second lower support bar, the second flange of the second stationary form overlapping in parallel relation the third lower support bar, the first flange of the first adjustable form overlapping in parallel relation 2. portion of the first flange of the first stationary form and the first lower support bar, the second flange of the first adjustable form overlapping in parallel relation the first flange of the second adjust-able form and a portion of the second flange of the first stationary form and the second lower support bar, the second flange of the second adjustable form overlapping in parallel relation a portion of the second flange of the second stationary form and the third lower support bar, first, second and third upper support bars respectively disposed in parallel relation over the first, second and third lower support bars and the respective overlapping flanges, and securing means for securing the overlapping flanges to the upper and lower support bars and to each other.

4. The form assembly of claim 3 in which the elongated lower support bars each include a pair of upwardly and outwardly extending guide members on the lateral sides thereof, which said guide members are adapted for restricting the lateral position of the flanges of the forms.

5. The form assembly of claim 3 in which the securing means includes a first pin which projects through the first upper support bar, the first flange of the first stationary form, the first flange of the first adjustable form, and the first lower support bar; a second pin which projects through the second upper support bar, the second flange of the first stationary form, the first flange of the second stationary form, the second flange of the first adjustable form, the first flange of the second adjustable form, and the second lower support bar; a tie rod including an elongated shank and being terminated on opposing ends by first and second loops respectively, the first loop being disposed about the base of the first pin and the second loop being disposed about the base of the second pin; and

releasable locking means for locking the first and second pins in the above described position.

6. The form assembly of claim 3 in which end caps are placed in overlapping engagement with each form immediately adjacent a pylon, each end cap comprising an arcuate shell of substantially shorter length than the form shell and which includes a pair of opposing lateral flanges located on the end caps for co-aligned disposition over the flanges of the stationary shell, and each end cap having the end of the shell which abuts the pylon closed by a plate which is integrally secured to the shell and the flanges.

7. A concrete form assembly for use bet-ween two fixed horizontally displaced pylons, said assembly including a first end cap having an open end and a closed end, the closed end of the first end cap being presented to one pylon and the open end being presented to the other pylon, a first elongated form having one end in overlapping engagement with the open end of the first end cap and the other end presented to said other pylon, a second elongated form having one end in continuous overlapping engagement with the first elongated form and the first end cap and the other end presented to the said other pylon, a second end cap having an open end in continuous overlapping engagement with the first and second forms and the first end cap, said second end cap having a closed end presented to the said other pylon, and releasable means for locking the first and second forms and the first and second end caps to each other, with the closed end of the first end cap in fiushwise abutment with said one pylon and the closed end of the second end cap in flushwise abutment with said other pylon.

8. The assembly of claim 7 in which the end caps and forms are arcuate in cross-section.

9. The assembly of claim 7 in which the end caps and forms are arcuate in cross-section and each have aligned lateral flanges which are also in overlapping engagement with each other.

10. The assembly of claim 7 in which the end caps and forms are arcuate in cross-section and each have aligned lateral flanges which are also in overlapping engagement with each other, the lateral flanges of the first form each being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced bores, the lateral flanges of the second form each being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced slots, the lateral flanges of the end caps each being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced bores, the spacing between the centers of the slots on the second form being identical with the spacing between the centers of the bores on the first form, and the spacing between the centers of the bores on the end caps being substantially closer together than the spacing between the centers of the bores of the first form.

11. The assembly of claim 10 in which the releasable means includes first and second lower support bars which extend between the pylons and which support the flanges of the forms and the end caps, first and second upper support bars which also extend between the pylons above the first and second lower support bars respectively and the flanges of the forms and end caps, and means for releasably locking the upper support bars to the lower support bars and to the flanges therebetw-een.

12. The assembly of claim 10 in which the releasable means includes first and second lower support bars which extend between the pylons and which support the flanges of the forms and the end caps, first and second upper support bars which also extend between the pylons above the first and second lower support bars respectively and the flanges of the forms and end caps, Said first and second upper support bars and first and second lower support bars each being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced bores which are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the separation from each other of the bores in the first form, and means for releasably locking the upper support bars to the lower support bars and to the flanges therebetween.

13. The assembly of claim 10 in which the releasable means includes first and second lower support bars which extend between the pylons and which support the flanges of the forms and the end caps, first and second upper support bars which also extend between the pylons above the first and second lower support bars respectively and the flanges of the forms and end caps, said first and second upper support bars and first and second lower sup? port bars each being provided with a plurality of regularly spaced bores which are spaced from each other by a distance equal to the separation from each other of the bores in the first form, and pin and tie rod means for releasably locking the upper support bars to the lower support bars and to the flanges therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,03 8,986 9/ 1912 Stretch. 1,085,862 2/ 1914 Herzberg et al. 1,176,005 3/1916 Waite 24924 1,227,769 5/ 1917 Fitch 249-29 1,670,243 5/1928 Danis 24930 1,750,760 3/1930 Kepple 2492s X J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. 

